Flexible handle for containers and method of producing container handles

ABSTRACT

A handle for a container consisting of an elongated flexible strip having opposite ends secured at spaced locations to the peripheral surface of the container in a manner that the length of the unsecured portion of the strip is greater than the peripheral dimension between the spaced locations. A double fold is produced in the elongated strip, between the spaced locations, to define a first position locating the unsecured portion of the strip substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the container. The adhesive securement terminates along lines which are angularly related to the elongated axis of the strip so that the unsecured upper edge of the strip is shorter than the unsecured lower edge. The strip is movable to an operative position by unfolding and reversing the strip along the adhesive termination lines to produce a handle which extends above the container.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Arthur W. Kinn Chicago. Ill.

[21] Appl. No 30,171

[22] Filed Apr. 20, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30. I971 [73] AssigneeNational Can Corporation Chicago, Ill.

[54] FLEXIBLE HANDLE FOR CONTAINERS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTAINERHANDLES 12 Claims, Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 220/94 R. 16/1 10.5. 215/100 A. 229/52 A [51] Int. Cl a 1865d /28 FieldoiSearch 215/100A; 220/94 A, 94 R; 229/52 R. 52 A. 52 B.52 AC; 206/ C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,4097/1952 Crary 1. 229/52 A 3.000.527 9/ I 961 Jennings et a1. 220/94 A3.155.263 11/1964 Hidding 220/94 A 3.268.112 8/1966 La Croce 220/94 R3,311,252 3/1967 Swartwood etal 215/ A Primary Examiner-Lloyd L KingA!!orne\-RobertJ Doherty ABSTRACT: A handle for a container consistingof an elongated flexible strip having opposite ends secured at spacedlocations to the peripheral surface of the container in a manner thatthe length of the unsecured portion of the strip is greater than theperipheral dimension between the spaced locations. A double fold isproduced in the elongated strip. between the spaced locations. to definea first position locating the unsecured portion of the stripsubstantially flush with the peripheral surface of the container. Theadhesive securement terminates along lines which are angularly relatedto the elongated axis of the strip so that the unsecured upper edge ofthe strip is shorter than the unsecured lower edge. The strip is movableto an operative position by unfolding and reversing the strip along theadhesive termination lines to produce a handle which extends above thecontainer.

FLEXIBLE HANDLE FOR CONTAINERS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTAINER HANDLESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tocontainers and more particularly to an improved handle for suchcontainers.

The use of metal containers for packaging various products for shipmentis very common in the packaging industry. In packaging merchandise, suchas paint, one well-known size of container is a 1 gallon can having ahandle formed thereon. In most 1 -gallon paint cans, the handle consistsof a metal bail having an arcuate intermediate portion terminating ininwardly directed ends which are received in openings formed in earsattached to the outer surface of the container. Such an arrangement hasseveral serious disadvantages which include the necessity of forming theears on the container at accurate locations and subsequently manuallyinserting the ends of the bail into the openings in the ears. Anotherdisadvantage with a bail or handle of this type is that, while most ofthe parts forming the handle are coated, the free ends of the bail arenormally uncoated and are subjected to the problem of rusting after aperiod of storage time. Even more importantly, the paint can handle ofthis type necessitates orientation of the container relative to dividersnormally forming part ofa larger container package. With a metal bail ofthe above type, the ears are required to be aligned with the largesttransverse dimension of a rectangular opening, normally defined by thedividers, in order to allow the container to enter the opening definedby the dividers.

Additionally, containers of the above type normally have some typeoflabel applied thereto. When applying a label to a container having theears secured thereto, it is necessary to accurately orient the labelbeing applied with the position of the ears so as to insure that theopenings in the label receiving the ears are in concentric relationshipwith the center of the respective ears.

While many alternate handle constructions have been proposed, to datenone of these have been commercially acceptable for paint containers andthe like. Thus, there still remains a need for a simple and inexpensivereplacement for the conventional metal bail and which will overcome allof the shortcomings described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to animproved method for forming a bail or handle on a container in acompletely automated fashion and in which the bail, in its storedposition, is located entirely within the confines of the outer perimeterof the container.

Stated another way, the present invention contemplates a handle for acontainer having a main body defining a peripheral surface and a rim onone end ofthe main body with the rim extending beyond the peripheralsurface of the main body. The handle includes an elongated strip offlexible material, adhesive means for attaching the strip at spacedlocations on opposite sides of the peripheral surface with the length ofthe continuous strip between the attaching locations being greater thanthe peripheral distance of the surface between the spaced locations, andmeans for maintaining the strip in a first position within the confinesof the rim. The means for maintaining the strip in the first positioncontemplates a double fold formed in the strip between the spacedattaching points with releasable means for maintaining the strip in thefolded position. The strip is adapted to be moved to a second positionabove the main body to define a handle by unfolding the unsecuredportion of the strip and producing a reverse fold adjacent the lines ofconnection of the strip to the container.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the stripcompletely encompasses the peripheral surface of the container along theupper edge and directly below the rim so as to result in a symmetricalarea below the lower edge of the flexible strip and the lower end of thecontainer. The uniform dimension between the lower edge of the flexiblestrip and the lower end of the container greatly simplifies the label,the mechanism for attaching a label to the container and eliminates thenecessity for orientation of the circumferential length of the containerwith the circumferential dimension of the container, as was heretoforenecessary when using metal bails.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the adhesivemeans for attaching the opposite ends of the strip to the containerterminates along lines which are located at an angle approximately 45relative to the longitudinal axis of the strip so that, when the stripis reversely folded to produce the handle, the angular relation of theterminal portion of the adhesive will place the entire adhesive areaunder equal shear stress. If the flexible material were not reverselyfolded, a localized area, adjacent the lower edge of the strip on eachside of the container, would be tensioned and would tend to peel thestrip from the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows aperspective view of a container having the handle of the presentinvention secured thereto and located in a storage position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the handle in its unfoldedcondition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the handle in its operativeposition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary developed plan view of the strip beforeattachment to the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 5 of the drawings discloses an elongatednarrow strip of flexible material 10, having adhesive means 12 onopposite ends thereof. The adhesive means l2 are each preferably dividedinto two areas 120 and 12b with the area 120 being a localized area ofhigh-strength adhesive having considerable resistance to shear, for apurpose which will be described later. The remaining area 12b may be acommercially available lowstrength glue or pressure-sensitive adhesive.It should be noted that the adhesive means 120 are substantially equallyangularly related to the longitudinal axis of the strip and are arrangedalong lines intersecting at a substantially angle on one side of thestrip. The area of the strip or tape 10 intermediate the localized areasof adhesive has a double fold 14 (FIGS. 1 and 4) defined therein withreleasable means in the form of contact adhesive 16 and 18 formaintaining the fold 14 in a folded condition and in juxtaposed relationto the container.

The strip 10 is adapted to be attached adjacent the upper edge of theperipheral surface of a container body 20, forming part of the container22. The container 22 further includes a rim 24 connected to thecontainer with a conventional double seam to have the outer edge extendbeyond the peripheral surface of the main body 20. The rim 24 is formedin the usual manner to receive an enclosure (not shown). The oppositeend of the body 20 has an enclosure 26 fixedly secured thereto, as bythe conventional double seam joint.

The method of attaching the flexible strip or handle 10 to the containerincludes securing the opposite ends of the strip 10 adjacent an upperedge of the peripheral surface of the container defined by the body 20with the localized areas of high-strength adhesive 12a producing linesof securement which are spaced from the ends of the strip and areangularly related to the longitudinal axis of the strip. With thisarrangement, the unsecured upper edge of the strip is shorter than theunsecured lower edge of the strip, for a purpose which will be describedlater. Either before or after the ends of the strip are secured to thecontainer, a double fold l4 is produced in the unsecured portion of thestrip to locate the entire substantially flush with the peripheralsurface of the container body. The fold 14 is releasably retained by theadhesive 16 and the adhesive 18 will secure the fold to the container.Thus, in the stored condition, the strip will be located between theperipheral surface of the container body 20 and the outer edge of therim 24. Furthermore, the double fold 14 in the strip will result in thelength of the strip between the lines of securementor adhesive means12a, along the edges 28, being greater than the peripheral distance ofthe surface of the container between the adhesive means. Thus, theunsecured portion of the strip can be unfolded (as shown in F IG. 2) andmoved over the edge of the rim 24 to serve as a handle (FIG. 3).

According to another aspect of the present invention, the unsecuredportion is reversed along the edges 28, defined by the opposed adhesivemeans 12a, to move the strip to an operative or second position shown inFIG. 3. It should be noted at this point that the formation of theterminal portion ofthe adhesive 12a along lines which define angles ofapproximately 45 relative to the longitudinal axis of the strip willresult in the lines intersecting to produce an angle of 90 along oneside of the strip 10 as shown in the developed condition. This willallow the handle to extend directly above the container and will assistin maintaining the handle in the position shown in FIG. 3. Additionally,the location of the adhesive, as described, will result in equal forcesbeing developed along the entire edges 28 of the adhesive areas 120.This feature is of extreme importance in assuring that the strip willnot be peeled from the container because of localized forces on edges ofthe adhesive. Also, locating the adhesive 12a at 45 angles relative tothe tapes 10 will increase the surface area of the adhesive while stillallowing the use of a relatively narrow strip.

While various types of adhesive may be used for the respective areas ofthe tape, one specific type of adhesive for the localized areas 120,which is commercially available, is Bostik Pre/Set Transmount 44 KP filmadhesive, manufactured by USM Corporation, Rutherford, New Jersey.However, it will be appreciated that any number of adhesives or hotmelts may be utilized for the adhesive area 120. it is desirable thatthe adhesive for the area 12a have a shear strength on the order of 55pounds per inch.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple andinexpensive manner of forming a handle for a container which can bestored in a neat and compact condition and can readily be moved to anoperative position which again is neat in appearance. In the storedcondition, the flexible strip or handle is located completely within theconfines of the outer edge of the container which allows for automaticcasing of the containers without the necessity of orientation of thecontainers relative to the package. in addition, by having the adhesivestrip completely encompass the upper edge of the peripheral surface ofthe container, the remaining surface is completely symmetrical togreatly simplify the design of the label to be attached thereto. Also,the flexible strip eliminates the need for the ears heretofore necessarythus allowing for automatic machinery for applying the flexible stripand the label without the necessity of orientation between thecontainer, the label and the flexible strip. By way of example, thestrip could be furnished in a continuous roll prefolded at spacedlocations along the length thereof and could be automatically fed to anadhesive applying station where the adhesive 12 could readily be appliedand the strip could then be fed to another location for automaticapplication to the container surface. in the same process, the containerlabel could be applied to the container either before or after thehandle was secured thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. in combination with a container having a main body defining aperipheral surface and a rim on one end of said main body and extendingbeyond said peripheral surface, a handle for said container comprisingan elongated strip of flexible material; adhesive means attaching saidstrip at spaced substantially opposite locations on said peripheralsurface,

said flexible strip having a length between said spaced locationsgreater than the peripheral distance between said spaced locations;means for maintaining said strip in a first position within the confinesof said rim, said last means accommodat ing movement of said strip to asecond position above said main body and said rim.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said adhesive meansis located along angularly related lines which are located in asubstantially common plane extending between said opposite locations.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said last meansincludes overlapping portions in said strip between said spacedlocations and releasable means maintaining said overlapping portions ina folding condition and said strip in juxtaposed relation to saidperipheral surface.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said strip hasopposite ends extending beyond said spaced locations to completelyencompass said peripheral surface with said adhesive means securing saidends to said surface beyond said spaced locations.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said adhesive meansterminates along lines extending substantially 45 relative to the lengthof said strip to produce an unattached upper edge portion which isshorter than the lower edge portion and in which said strip is reversedalong said lines and unfolded to define said second position.

6. A flexible handle for a container comprising an elongated, narrowstrip of flexible material; adhesive means at spaced locations on saidstrip, said adhesive means being positioned along angularly relatedlines intersecting at a substantially angle on one side of said strip;said strip having a double fold between said spaced locations;releasable means on said strip for maintaining said double foid wherebysaid strip may be attached at spaced locations to a main body of acontainer adjacent one end by said adhesive means with said double foldmaintaining said strip in a stored condition and said strip may beunfolded and reversed along said lines to produce a handle.

7. In a container having a main body defining a peripheral surfaceterminating in opposite ends, a handle comprising an elongated flexiblestrip having a length greater than the peripheral dimension of saidsurface; adhesive means securing opposite ends of said strip to saidsurface adjacent one end, said adhesive means terminating along lines atlocations spaced from said strip ends, said lines defining angles ofsubstantially 45 relative to an elongated axis of said strip and locatedin a substantially common plane, said plane being inclined towards anintermediate portion of said strip above said one end of said body; saidstrip having a double fold in said unsecured portion to locate saidstrip in a stored position substantially flush with said peripheralsurface, said strip being movable to an operative position by unfoldingsaid double fold and reversing said strip along said lines to produce ahandle extending above said one end ofsaid body.

8. A container as defined in claim 7, in which said body has a rim onsaid one end, said rim having an outer edge extending beyond saidperipheral surface, the further improvement of said strip being locatedbetween said peripheral surface and the outer edge of said rim in saidstored position.

9. A method of producing a handle for a container which comprises thesteps of securing opposite ends of an elongated flexible strip ofmaterial adjacent an upper edge of the peripheral surface of saidcontainer to produce lines of securement spaced from said ends that areangularly related to the elongated axis of said strip with said striphaving a length between said lines which is greater than the peripheraldistance of said surface; and folding said strip between said lines tolocate the unsecured portion substantially flush with said surfacewhereby said strip may be unfolded and reversed along said lines toproduce a handle extending above said upper edge of said container.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, in which said strip completelyencompasses the peripheral surface of the container along the upperedge.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, in which said strip is releasablyretained in said folded condition.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the lines of securement arelocated at substantially 45 angles relative to the elongated axis ofsaid Strip and produce an unsecured 5 upper edge of said strip which isshorter than the unsecured lower edge of said strip.

1. In combination with a container having a main body defining aperipheral surface and a rim on one end of said main body and extendingbeyond said peripheral surface, a handle for said container comprisingan elongated strip of flexible material; adhesive means attaching saidstrip at spaced substantially opposite locations on said peripheralsurface, said flexible strip having a length between said spacedlocations greater than the peripheral distance between said spacedlocations; means for maintaining said strip in a first position withinthe confines of said rim, said last means accommodating movement of saidstrip to a second position above said main body and said rim.
 2. Thecombination as defined in claim 1, in which said adhesive means islocated along angularly related lines which are located in asubstantially common plane extending between said opposite locations. 3.The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said last means includesoverlapping portions in said strip between said spaced locations andreleasable means maintaining said overlapping portions in a foldingcondition and said strip in juxtaposed relation to said peripheralsurface.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said striphas opposite ends extending beyond said spaced locations to completelyencompass said peripheral surface with said adhesive means securing saidends to said surface beyond said spaced locations.
 5. The combination asdefined in claim 1, in which said adhesive means terminates along linesextending substantially 45* relative to the length of said strip toproduce an unattached upper edge portion which is shorter than the loweredge portion and in which said strip is reversed along said lines andunfolded to define said second position.
 6. A flexible handle for acontainer comprising an elongated, narrow strip of flexible material;adhesive means at spaced locations on said strip, said adhesive meansbeing positioned along angularly related lines intersecting at asubstantially 90* angle on one side of said strip; said strip having adouble fold between said spaced locations; releasable means on saidstrip for maintaining said double fold whereby said strip may beattached at spaced locations to a main body of a container adjacent oneend by Said adhesive means with said double fold maintaining said stripin a stored condition and said strip may be unfolded and reversed alongsaid lines to produce a handle.
 7. In a container having a main bodydefining a peripheral surface terminating in opposite ends, a handlecomprising an elongated flexible strip having a length greater than theperipheral dimension of said surface; adhesive means securing oppositeends of said strip to said surface adjacent one end, said adhesive meansterminating along lines at locations spaced from said strip ends, saidlines defining angles of substantially 45* relative to an elongated axisof said strip and located in a substantially common plane, said planebeing inclined towards an intermediate portion of said strip above saidone end of said body; said strip having a double fold in said unsecuredportion to locate said strip in a stored position substantially flushwith said peripheral surface, said strip being movable to an operativeposition by unfolding said double fold and reversing said strip alongsaid lines to produce a handle extending above said one end of saidbody.
 8. A container as defined in claim 7, in which said body has a rimon said one end, said rim having an outer edge extending beyond saidperipheral surface, the further improvement of said strip being locatedbetween said peripheral surface and the outer edge of said rim in saidstored position.
 9. A method of producing a handle for a container whichcomprises the steps of securing opposite ends of an elongated flexiblestrip of material adjacent an upper edge of the peripheral surface ofsaid container to produce lines of securement spaced from said ends thatare angularly related to the elongated axis of said strip with saidstrip having a length between said lines which is greater than theperipheral distance of said surface; and folding said strip between saidlines to locate the unsecured portion substantially flush with saidsurface whereby said strip may be unfolded and reversed along said linesto produce a handle extending above said upper edge of said container.10. A method as defined in claim 9, in which said strip completelyencompasses the peripheral surface of the container along the upperedge.
 11. A method as defined in claim 9, in which said strip isreleasably retained in said folded condition.
 12. A method as defined inclaim 9, in which the lines of securement are located at substantially45* angles relative to the elongated axis of said strip and produce anunsecured upper edge of said strip which is shorter than the unsecuredlower edge of said strip.